The Spark Gap

If you know how a Tesla coil works then you will know what a spark gap is and what it does, if you dont I will now explain. The spark gap is a voltage controlled switch and is literally a very small gap about 1cm between one of the Tesla Coil wires. There needs to be a high voltage and if there is than the electricity will be able to jump the gap taking time. The Capacitors need time to fill up and discharge so this spark gap gives them it. The bigger the spark gap, the more time there is for the caps to fill resulting in a bigger output from the coil. I will be making a more advanced spark gap by housing it in a balsa wood tube with a fan at each end. The fans are set so one will suck and one will blow out. I have done this for two reasons:

• Firstly because high voltage travelling through are creates ozone that needs to be vented.
• Secondly because the spark can jump the gap easier if there is a lower air pressure and the fans should create this.

You dont have to have any fans you can just use two open ended wires but this one will work better and I already had the fans. The electrodes I used were just stainless steel screws. I used screws so i could turn one of them so i could control the size of the gap. This way I can change the gap size when ever I want and make the coil more efficient. I have also hooked up a switch box so I can turn on and off the fans when I want. I will also probably hook up other things to the switches such as turning on and off the coil itself.

I have already kind of explained how to make it. Just ajusd the size of the gap so it is at its larges before the spark not jumping and your coil will work well.

Wiring the switch to the fans.

As I have said; making the fans and switch is optional, having a spark gap is not. You must have one for the coil to work!

Next step: Safety Gap